this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
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depression_now!

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A sad place for sad people to be sad.

Have fun!

This community is for people with depression. Memes and general discussion about depression are encouraged and welcome.

Bi-polar people are also allowed to post here but only sometimes.(joke)

This community is aimed at being inclusive for all people with depression and as such should be free of racism, homophobia, trans-phobia, sexism, patriarch and all other forms of hate-speech.

Trolls will be banned!

Thnx

Some resources posted from helpful people:

Therapy is not for everyone, check out peer counseling instead: https://www.americanmentalwellness.org/intervention/peer-support/

Find health professionals: https://www.psychologytoday.com/

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[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (6 children)
[–] trolololol@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

I think the point is talking about it, so both the picture and your comment go hand in hand. Both are the start of a conversation.

[–] perspectiveshifting@sh.itjust.works 34 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think the intent is to make people aware that someone can externally be happy/successful/etc but still be in a very bad place internally. People who have or do deal with depression and related conditions probably think this is so obvious it's not worth pointing out, but I think a lot of them would be surprised how often the average person takes someone's externalized condition and assumes it's their entire experience.

I have no idea if posts like this picture do anything to actually inform people (and I'd bet not), but I guess I get what they're going for.

I appreciate the thoughtful response, thanks!

[–] brrt@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago

From my perspective there’s two issues being addressed:

  1. People expect depressed people to always look depressed. So in turn if you are smiling and/or having a good moment people assume you can’t be depressed.
  2. The prevalence of toxic positivity in our society. „How are you?“ having to be answered with „good/great“ or something similar in most circumstances. An expectation of upholding an image and/or not burdening others.

These two might also feed into each other. A depressed person might not feel seen and/or might feel like a burden. Which most likely worsens their depression.

[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nobody knew I had near-constant suicidal ideation until I finally told someone outright. It's not a desire for suicide, but constant rehearsal, like an "earworm" song you don't like, but can't get rid of.

The sad thing is, if you don't ask, you might never know. People mask well. So if you have a loved one, and things are superficial with that person, FIX THAT SHIT. Talk personally. Get close, try to get them talking. Give them an in to open up.

Hopefully you won't be surprised to find they felt alone and unloved after they're gone.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 13 hours ago

Haha, you should go look at my comment history. I just mined myself a whole bunch of downvotes in a situation because I'm a default asshole.

I'm taking a radical transparency tactic these days. I feel like I've been covering and hiding enough, keeping up appearances. I'm not trying to be unpleasant, by no means. I actually apologized in the downvoted thread, because I was clearly in the wrong.

Nonetheless, in the future I am plowing straight ahead, come what may. Maybe you should reserve your downvotes for things that you're passionate about though.

The truth is I'm here for connection, not affection.

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Even smiling people can be depressed. The rest is just window dressing.

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I think the title should be "This is what depression can look like"

The marsks we wear in public can hide what we truly feel. Take some time to talk to people and check they're ok behind the mask.